50 years ago ... May/June 1957.There were not many surprises in the first official survey of the religious affiliations of members of Congress, undertaken by the Library of Congress. The Methodists are first, with 87 Representatives and 18 Senators; the Roman Catholics are second with 84 Representatives and 11 Senators; the Presbyterians, Baptists, and Episcopalians are trailing in that order. Although there are a few members who decline to list their religious affiliation, there are no outspoken theological rebels--no Robert Ingersolls Robert Ingersoll may refer to:
The Congressional Record began in 1873 and, in 1947, a feature called The Daily Digest was added to briefly highlight the daily legislative activities of each House, are replete re·plete adj. 1. Abundantly supplied; abounding: a stream replete with trout; an apartment replete with Empire furniture. 2. Filled to satiation; gorged. 3. with sermons and religious panegyrics, all paid for by the taxpayers. Catholic congressmen vie with each other in introducing praise of Israel; Jewish congressmen delight in introducing eulogies of Catholic bishops. The Protestant congressmen are less anxious because they are on top. --Paul Blanshard, "The Sectarian sec·tar·i·an adj. 1. Of, relating to, or characteristic of a sect. 2. Adhering or confined to the dogmatic limits of a sect or denomination; partisan. 3. Narrow-minded; parochial. n. 1. Battlefront" |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion